W.GN.01.02 – Write a brief informational piece such as a page for a class book using drawings, words and word-like clusters
METS-S/NETS-T
Input and retrieve information from a technological system in their community
Essential Questions:
What is a monster? Do monsters have to be scary? How would you make a monster?
Objectives:
Students will be able to work with an e-pal from a different part of the country to describe and create one another’s monsters. Students will draw a picture of a monster and describe it to their e-pal, who tries to re-create the image based only on the description. Once both students have drawn and described one another’s monsters, they will use scanners to send the pictures to each other and see how well they have done
Tools and Resources:
Paper, writing and coloring tools, the book My very own Monster, a scanner and access to a teacher website to set up e-pals with another class
Rationale:
This lesson will help students develop critical thinking and language development, as well as having them become more proficient in using a computer.
Sequence of Activities:
Anticipatory Questions/Activity:
Ask students what they think Halloween is about? Do you think it is better to be funny or scary at Halloween? How can we communicate with other students around the country to see how they celebrate Halloween?
Body of Lesson Plan: Segment #1
Once the students have started thinking about monsters and Halloween Read the book: My very own Monster: by Paul O’Hanlon, make sure to point out he different details about the monster that are in the book Example: “My monster would have long orange arms, and very hairy blue feet.”
Segment #2
There really is no such thing as a monster, but we are going to make believe. We are going to use as much description as possible to create our very own monster and share it with students from different classrooms around the country.
Description~ 2.a statement that represents something in words
Feedback: Question “how do you think we can share with students from around the country?” Example student response “ we could call them”
Segment #3
1.) This project will take approximately 2 days to complete
2.) Students will be introduced to what a computer e-pal is during large group instruction.
3.) From here students will be shown that they are already linked to a computer e-pal. (Teacher needs to set this up prior to showing students)
4.) Students will be shown an example of an email written on the computer.
5.) Once finished with large group instruction, students will go back to their own desks to start the working on their very own monsters.
Segment #4
Day 1-Students will be given paper and drawing tools to make any kind of monster they wish(make sure to remind them of the definition of description)
As students finish their drawings, they will (with teachers help if needed) dictate or type (if able) an email to their e-pal explaining in great detail exactly how their monster looks.
They will send this email and look for a response
Day 2-The response email should have the description of the e-pals monster in it.
The student will then read and follow their e-pals descriptions to draw their monster.
When the student is finished they need access to a scanner to scan in both their original drawing and their new drawing of their e-pals monster.
After the scanning is finished, they will send both drawings in an email to their e-pal, and wait for a response back.
Once they have received the email, they can see how good of a descriptive writer and listener they are by comparing their original drawings to the ones from their e-pal.
Unit Plan Mary M | Lesson 1 Mary M| Lesson 2 Mary M| Lesson 3 Mary M| Lesson 4 Mary M| Lesson 5 Mary M
Segment #1
Description~ 2.a statement that represents something in words
Feedback: Question “how do you think we can share with students from around the country?” Example student response “ we could call them”
2.) Students will be introduced to what a computer e-pal is during large group instruction.
3.) From here students will be shown that they are already linked to a computer e-pal. (Teacher needs to set this up prior to showing students)
4.) Students will be shown an example of an email written on the computer.
5.) Once finished with large group instruction, students will go back to their own desks to start the working on their very own monsters.